Tuning clamp for musical instruments



Aug. 11

' LE R. SIMPSON 'TUNING Q L AMP FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed; Oct. 30.

renal? TUNING: CLAlllil? MUSICAL TS.

Application filed October 30, 15-323. serial No. 671,632.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that E.ARL For Siiurso citizen of the United States, residing; at 1.700 East 29th Street, Baltimore city, and State of Maryland, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tuning Clamps for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a tuning; clamp of the type designed to be adiustably secured to a musical instrument and carries the mouthpiece proper, and is particularly adapted to permit the mouthpiece to be adjusted toward or away from the instrument to which it is attached, at the same time assuring an air tight connection at all tunes.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a tuning); clamp interposed hetween the mouthpiece proper and musical instrument, this tuning; clamp being}; specifically desig ed and constructed to permit a sliding ad ustment of the mouthpiece with relation to the instrument and so equipped as to provide a means whereby the mouthpiece is always held rigidly with relation to the instrument to which it is attached.

A st-..l further object of this invention is the provision of a tuning clamp capable of being easily and quickly attached to a musical instrument, more particularly a saxophone, and so attached to assure a sliding adjustment of the tuning; clamp with relation thereto, said tuning: clamp also provided with means to retain the mouthpiece of the instrument and further equipped with means to cause an air tight seal between the instrument holder and mouthpiece.

lrleretoliore the mouthpiece used on musicalinstruments, particularly sanophones, have been fitted to the instrument and held thereto by friction, and interposed between the mouthpiece proper and instrument was a filler of cork, this cork constituting an air sealing means as well as a binding; means. The ohjection to this type of tuning; clamp has been found that when it is desired to change the scale or notes or tune of the in strument, the mouthpiece is slipped toward the end of the instrument and this constant movingcaused a wearing of the cork which in turn permitted the mouthpiece to have a lateral movement, which was a detriment to the proper tone of the instrument. To overcome this it is now common to use tissue paper or other means to retain the mouthpiece rigid to the instrument in its varied adjusted positions. To overcome this seious objection I have provided a tuning clamp formed of a single blank of material capable of being adjustably secured at any given position to the instrument and equipped with means to be detachably fastened to the mouthpiece of the instrument, and interposed between the mouthpiece and instrument I have provided an air sealing means such as a washer or the like.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a tuning clamp which is compai tively simple in construction and one which could be easily manufactured and produced at a comparatively small cost.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and claimed.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my improved tuning clamp as made in accordance with this invention and showing the same attached and ready for use,

Figure 2 is an enlarged, detailed, sectional view oi the tuning clamp attached,

Figure 3 is a "front elevational view of the tuning clamp as attached,

F igure 4: is a side elevational view of the tuning clamp detached from the mouthpiece and instrument,

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a complete instrument showing the relative position of my tuning: clamp with relation to the mouthpiece and instrument,

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a modification of the tuning clamp shown in Figure 1, and,

Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the modification shown in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates the tuning clamp in its entirety and it comprises a band or mouthpiece memher 6, which is provided on one "face with a reduced extension 7, the forward end of which is provided with depending ears 8. The extension 7 is provided with. intermediate of its ends with a semi-circular slot 9 which permits that portion of the extension carrying the ears 8 to be drawn together in contact with one another, so as to set up a binding; action to firmly secure the tuning clamp in its entirety to the crook 10 of a musical instrument such as a saxophone, or the like.

The band 6 is provided with a diameter of such depth so as to permit easy access therein of one end or" the mouthpiece 11. and this mouthpiece is retained against accideir tal displacement from the band 6 of the tuning clamp 5 by a fastening means 12, such as a screw, stud or the like.

This fastening means 12 extends through the band 6 and has contact with the adjacent end of? the mouth iece 11 so as to retain it in its proper position.

The mouthpiece 11 is shown provided with a ligature 13, which ligature supports the sounding reed to the mouthpiece 11 and forms no part of this invention.

The ears 8 of the extension 7 are divided and defined by a slot 142, and one of the ears 8 is divided to provide a holding or guide member 15. Swiveled in the member 15 and adjacent member 8 is a screw stud 16, which is provided at one end with a winged head 17, its tree-end being provided with screw threads 18, which have a threaded engagement with the tree ear 8. Consequently when the head 1'? is turned in clockwise direction, the ears 8 are drawn in toward one another by virtue of the slots 9 and 14:, and this consequently permits a suiiicient binding action of the extension 7 on the crook 10 of the instrument so as to hold the same against movement in any direction.

Interposed within the band 6 and extension 7 is a packing 19 formed of rubber or the like material and this packing is of the same interior configuration as the tuning clamp 5 in its entirety, and is primarily used to "form an air seal so that air blown into the mouthpiece 11 can escape only by passinn through and into the instrument.

The instrument shown in the figures is also provided with the usual cork 20, but it is to be understood that this can be dispensed with and the only part it forms in this invention is to assist in preventing the tuning clamp from injuring the instrument. and also assisting; in causing a friction holding device in conjunction with the packing 19.

It is obvious, however, that the packing 19 will constitute an air seal and friction binding element, thus making it unnecessary to use the cork as now provided on all saxophones.

When it is necessary to adjust the tuning clamp 5 with relation to the instrument, it is only necessary to release the tension of the screw 16 through the medium of the head 17, slip the tuning clamp in its entirety to the desired position on the instrument and retighten the screw 16 and the tuning clamp is permanently adjusted to the desired position.

In the modifications shown in Figures (3 and 7, I have provided a tuning clamp having the usual band member 21 and extension 22. The extension 22 is provided with the slot 23 and the extreme outer end thereof is overlapped as at 24; so as to permit it to have a varied adjustment on the instrument in the manner shown in the preferred form.

The extension 22 of the modification is provided with a pair of spaced ears 25, tl'irough which extends a winged bolt 26. and this winged bolt draws the overlapped ends 24: together as desired, so as to fit it with binding engagement on the instrument 10.

The operation of. the modification in use is identical with that described in the preferred form, thus, the description for one will serve for all.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A musical instrument mouth-piece tuning clamp comprising, a band, an extension formed on said band, a locking means carried by said extension to retain the tuning clamp to an instrument. a second locking means carried by the band to retain a mouth piece thereto, and a packing carried by the tuning clamp and interposed between the mouth-piece and instrument.

2. musical instrument mouth piece tuning clamp comprising, an annular band, a circular extension formed on one face of the band, said extension provided adjacent its outer end with slots defining co-scting ears,

carried by said ears to adjustably retain the tuning),- clamp to an instrument, and means carried by the band to retain a mouthpiece thereto.

3. A. musical instrument mouth-piece tunin; clamp comprising, an annular band havin; a circular extension on one side thereof, said. band and extension stamped from a single blank, said extension being slotted to provide depending ears, means extending through said ears to retain said tuning clamp to an instrument at fixed adjusted positions, means carried by the band to fasten a mouthpiece thereto, and a packing of the same configuration as the band and extension carried by the tuning clamp.

4c. A. musical instrument mouth-piece tuninn; clamp comprising, a body provided with means of securing within the same a mouthpiece and also provided with means of securing within said body a mouth-pipe.

5. A musical instrument mouth-piece tuning clamp comprising, a body provided with means of securing within the same a mouthpiece and also provided with means oi securing Within said body {L mouth-pipe and means of adjusting said mouth-pipe Within said body.

6. A musical instrument mouth-piece tuning clamp comprising, a body provided With means of securing Within the same a mouthpiece and also provided with means of securing within said body a mouth-pipe, and means of adjusting said mouth-pipe Within 1 said body and adjustably clamping the same v-shen adjusted.

In testimony whereof he hereunto ai'fiizes his signature.

EARL LE ROY SIMPSON. 

